John Wooden, 1910-2010
latimes.com
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John Wooden...class...pure class.
Before and during my college years at Oregon State University I had the privilege to watch him coach those mighty Bruin basketball teams.
It was very satisfying to watch the OSU Beavers occasionally beat Wooden's Bruins, win or lose you knew your team had faced the best. Win or lose Wooden commanded, deserved, and earned respect. Never was that respect ever difficult to pay.
I think the following comment by a Los Angeles Times blog reader describes the immense stature of Coach John Wooden best...
Your gift to all of us, Coach Wooden, is your legacy. Yes indeed coach...thank you very much.
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John Wooden...class...pure class.
Before and during my college years at Oregon State University I had the privilege to watch him coach those mighty Bruin basketball teams.
It was very satisfying to watch the OSU Beavers occasionally beat Wooden's Bruins, win or lose you knew your team had faced the best. Win or lose Wooden commanded, deserved, and earned respect. Never was that respect ever difficult to pay.
I think the following comment by a Los Angeles Times blog reader describes the immense stature of Coach John Wooden best...
- dju77 at 8:56 AM June 05, 2010
About a year and a half ago I had the honor to see Coach Wooden present his "Pyramid of Success" to a group of about 50 successful business men from the Baby Boomer Generation, many with inflated egos. I myself am just a young man and was working at the event. His appearance came as a surprise to all guests and when he entered the room he was pushed to the front in a wheel chair, looking extremely frail. At first I felt uncomfortable being there, as if his past greatness was being exploited and that we were being introduced to a shell of Coach Wooden but as soon as he started to present the group went into complete silence and hung on his every word. His message could not have been anymore poignant. He was incredibly engaging, passionate, and motivating. By the time he was done the room that was primarily filled with men immediately jumped into a standing ovation and most people including myself had tears in their eyes. In that hour he was able to deflate those egos and help everyone realize the simplicity of being a successful individual (not businessman) and how to be a beneficial contributor to society. His presence will be missed but I can only hope that the lessons and examples that he has set for so many will continue to be passed on from one generation to the next. Thank you coach.
Your gift to all of us, Coach Wooden, is your legacy. Yes indeed coach...thank you very much.
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HaverDad, thanks for that timeline. As one who was too young to see all of Coach Wooden's successes, I appreciate being brought up to speed.
was privledged to hear him speak in 1977... what a treat; We got to ask him several questions about coaching... It was one of those times when I can remember what he was wearing; what the weather was like that night, etc....
An incredible man and legacy.
An incredible man and legacy.
The '60s and '70s are no more distrustful than the
cynical age of this decade.
Cities were burning.
Many college campus were under siege.
Black vs white
Youth vs old (defined as anyone over 30)
Maryland to be the UCLA of the East!
Yet my fleeting memory remembers that for
some of the 70's, UCLA players got very close
to a booster name Sam Gilbert.
I am not saying that even with such flaws,
(and something Wooden would not argue), when
the NCAA cited UConn and Jim Calhoun for major recruiting violations, it made me wonder, again.
cynical age of this decade.
Cities were burning.
Many college campus were under siege.
Black vs white
Youth vs old (defined as anyone over 30)
Maryland to be the UCLA of the East!
Yet my fleeting memory remembers that for
some of the 70's, UCLA players got very close
to a booster name Sam Gilbert.
I am not saying that even with such flaws,
(and something Wooden would not argue), when
the NCAA cited UConn and Jim Calhoun for major recruiting violations, it made me wonder, again.
